"Who told you this?"
"Zara Dumps told me. After last night, she knew who I was, as her mother told her. I went to her rooms to-day, and she wanted to have me arrested. But I told her that I would accuse her of killing Horran, for I knew that she accused Clarke, and had been near The Laurels about the time of the murder."
"How did you know that?"
"I learned it from Clarke himself. Yes! I went down secretly and in disguise to Crumel after the murder, to learn what had become of the stamp, and saw Clarke. He could not denounce me, as I told him that his son Frank was concerned in the murders with me. Zara not only told Prudence, so as to break off the marriage with you, but she also told Clarke himself. When I learned that Zara had been near the house at the time of the crime, I saw her to-day, and made her confess."
"She only saw Clarke," said Clarice, bravely. "She never told me that she had seen me. I saw her last night."
"Zara told you as much as she thought proper," said Osip, in sharp tones, "but I made her confess the rest. After Clarke had gone away she stole up to the window and saw you, and what you were doing. I think also," added Osip, scathingly, "that she mentioned how you had concealed the stamp."
"She did?" muttered Clarice, wondering if Zara had betrayed her disguise. But Osip's next words reassured her.
"Of course she did. You wanted to get out of marrying her, and she was forced to make use of her knowledge to make you consent. I understand how she coerced you; but how did Jerce?"
"He did not."
"Yes, he did. You never murdered Horran of your own free will. Jerce wanted money, I suppose?"